Mixed Berry Jam

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Mixed Berry Jam Ingredients 2 cups blueberries 2 cups raspberries 1 cup strawberries, diced 1 box (1.75 oz.) pectin 6 cups sugar Directions *Heat your empty jars in boiling water while you prepare the jam. When you process the jam, you should have 2 inches of water above the jars. 1. Rinse the berries under cold water and place them between paper towels to dry. 2. Place the berries in a large sauce pot. Crush the berries with a potato masher. 3. Stir in the pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat and stir constantly. 4. Stir in the sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. 5. Skim off any foam. 6. Pour into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head space. 7. Clean the glass rim well with a clean wet cloth. Top with canning disk and screw on the ring. (Do not tighten it tightly.) 8. Place the jars in boiling water for 10 minutes with lid on. Turn off the heat. Remove the lid and keep the jars in the hot water for 5 minutes. 9. Remove the jars from the water, being careful not to tip the jars. Place the jars on a cooling rack. Do not touch the jars for 24 hours. 10. Unscrew the rings on the jars and check the seals carefully. If sealed properly, the jam will be good for one year. *This recipe makes about 5 half pints.

Check out Make Ahead Meals for Moms (Thanks for this recipe!)

Make at Home Fun Finger Paints :)

All you need is: 2 cups white flour 2 cups cold water food coloring Pour water in bowl. slowly add flour, while stirring. Pour into smaller bowls. Add various food coloring. Paint and enjoy!

Check out ...Edible Playdough

Please check out simplygoodstuff.com by clicking the link in the blue box on the left hand side below. Thanks, It has recipes for edible playdough. Fun!

Fun Summer Art

Today we had some friends spend the day with us (ages 4 - 8) My son, who is 2, enjoys it when we spend the day with friends. To help fill the time and do something special with the kids, we made butterfly art. We took tissue paper and colored it with markers. Once colored we sprayed the tissue paper with a little water. This made the markers run together like paint. It was neat looking. We then crimped the center together with colorful pipe cleaners and made butterflies. This can also be done using coffee filters and pipecleaners, instead of tissue paper. It was a fun activity and everyone's art looked different and unique. :)

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DID YOU KNOW?

Most food stains can be removed from your carpet using shaving cream or vinegar. Of course, the first approach is water and dabbing but if it is a hard to remove stain try shaving cream or vinegar. :)

HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH

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Homemade playdough is an easy and economically reasonable activity you can do with your toddler or preschooler. It is something both me and little boy enjoy! One simple clay recipe is: 1 c. corn starch 1/3 c. veg. oil 2/3 c. flour Mix well into a dough mixture. Enjoy! For an additional recipe check out the photos attached!

Sharing

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Young children, especially those under 5, love to explore the world around them and are still learning social rules and boundaries. It is normal for a young child not to share. One way to encourage sharing is to implement it in your daily life. When you are giving your child a toy or a snack during the day, take a moment and say "I will share with you" as you give it to them. Encourage sharing and lead by example. Don't yell or get mad at your child for not sharing at a young age. Instead, interact and encourage sharing by offering another toy, bringing multiple toys of the same type, or pointing out when other children share. Look how nice Joey was. He is sharing with you. Sharing is a social skill that takes time, patients, and practice. Most of all relax and now that over time your child will start to understand sharing.